Donald Roy Boss, aged 26, was born on November 30, 1917 in Ohio. He was a West Point graduate in 1939, earning his commission and by the 1940 census, a USAAF pilot in the San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas, area where he rented a home with three other USAAF pilots. He was rated as a multi-engine aircraft pilot. He was selected for training as a pilot of a B-29 Superfortress and eventually sent overseas to the C.B.I. theater of war against the Japanese. On 14 October 1944, a B-29, # 42-6280, "Klank-Klank," assigned to 20th Air Force, Dudhlaindi, India, 444th Bomb Group, 678th Bomb Squadron, with Lt.Col. Boss as the co-pilot, departed Kwanghang, China, on a bombing mission to Okayma, Taiwan, and was "lost due to unknown reasons." All died in the crash of the B-29 Superfortress. 42-6280 was believed to have been seen when the formation was coming together at Sui-Ning (30-29 N — 105-36 E) at about 0700. The formation entered an overcast and 42-6280 was not seen again. B-29, 42-6202 landed at Liangshan, believes he heard 42-6280 calling Liangshan when 42-6202 was circling Liangshan before landing at about 1600. His remains, with the unidentifiable remains of the crew, were recovered from China and all were buried in a two-casket group ceremony in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, Missouri, on 29 November 1949.

Donald was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com